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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 16:56 |
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PIERRE, S.D. (AP) _ Some South Dakota nursing homes are
struggling to find beds, but a bill that has passed the House may
help solve the shortage.
House members voted 66-2 on a bill Wednesday that allows the
Department of Health, with help from the Social Services
Department, to annually shift nursing facility beds to areas with
the highest need.
Gov. Dennis Daugaard advisor Deb Bowman says the eastern half of
the state has beds that could go to the Rapid City area, allowing
residents to stay closer to their homes.
She says the state has 74 beds from closed facilities.
The bill allows an exception to Gov. George Mickelson's1988
moratorium on buying more beds with state taxpayer dollars.
Next it goes to the Governor's desk for his signature.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) |
